Question Number: 15977

Law 11 - Offside 7/8/2007

RE: Select Under 17

Steve Kenton of Ames, IA USA asks...

I read in the current FIFA LOTG that a player is guilty of offside for gaining an advantage should the ball rebound from the post or cross bar or *rebound from an opposing player*. Has the rule always included the rebound from an opposing player? Does anyone know the rationale behind this part of the offside rule? It seems more intuitive to allow play to continue if the ball touched another player.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

In 1974 Wales introduced the following to the International FA Board [IFAB].

Delete the following part of Law 11: touches or is played by an opponent.

After lengthy discussion it was decided to change one illustration in Law 11 from Not Offside to Offside. Then in 1978 it was no longer possible to interfere with play after being in an offside position and receiving the ball, last touched or played by a team mate, that deflected off an opponent.

The rationale was that player gained advantage even though he was offside when the ball was touched by a team mate.

When one looks to the history of The Game one finds the offence, offside, came from a player being ahead of the ball during play. When he was he was said to be off his side, the English for team, and because he was off his side he could not participate in play. At one time or another this was corrupted when the IFAB allowed offside to be reset when the ball touched an opponent. When the board returned to the original meaning of offside they just put things right again.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Play DOES continue. That's why offside is still in effect. If the ball glances off an opponent, then offside has not reset and the player that was in offside position when the ball was touched or played by a teammate may not become actively involved in play. In this case, by gaining an advantage.